An October 2020 stabbing has landed a Spartansburg man in state prison for at least the next four years.

Charles R. Earls, III, 24, was sentenced by Judge Gregory Hammond on Friday on charges of aggravated assault and terroristic threats.

It was Earls who initially called 911 and told troopers that he had stabbed the victim twice after the victim attempted to punch him, per the affidavit of probable cause. The incident occurred at a Dey Lane residence.

Troopers were on scene less than 15 minutes later and took Earls into custody, according to the affidavit.

They observed the victim being treated by EMTs on the porch of the Dey Lane residence and observed “a large pool of blood on the porch” under the victim. They said that EMTs were “holding a towel” on the victim’s abdomen, in addition to a towel or bandage on the victim’s wrist.

Police interviewed the victim in the ambulance.

The victim said he was contacted by a female who had broken up with Earls the day prior and got a ride to Dey Lane where he “encountered Earls as soon as he arrived.” He said he continued to ask Earls to leave and

“Earls stepped up on him.” He then pushed Earls in what he described as an attempt “to get him to leave.”

The victim then, according to police, saw a curved knife in Earls’ hand.

The affidavit states that Earls then “lunged forward” and stabbed the victim in the wrist, grazed his chest “and then stabbed him in the abdomen.”

His attorney, Alan Conn, said on Friday that his client has mental health issues as well as autism and “misinterpreted the situation.”

“Mr. Earls is a threat to society,” District Attorney Rob Greene said, citing violent acts in his record.

He said Earls should spend as long a time in prison as possible.

“You stabbed the one victim three times,” Hammond told Earls, while on probation in Erie County.

Hammond cited juvenile and adult offenses as well as a sentence he handed down to Earls a few months ago of 21 to 32 months in state prison for assaulting two jail corrections officers.

“You do present a danger to the community,” he said.

Hammond sentenced Earls to 33 to 66 months incarceration with credit for 247 days time served, $11,567 in restitution to a victim’s compensation fund, $625 in fees, a no contact/no trespass order, submission of a DNA sample and to undergo a mental health evaluation and comply with recommendations on a count of aggravated assault as well as 22 to 44 months incarceration and a no contact/no trespass order on a count of terroristic threats. Given the length of the assessment, a mandatory 12 months of reentry supervision was also ordered.